ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two European tourists taking pictures of rare birds and their Filipino guide were kidnapped shortly after midday yesterday by five gunmen in Tawi-Tawi, according to police.
Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, Tawi-Tawi police provincial chief, identified the victims as Elwold Horn, 52, of the Netherlands; Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, of Switzerland, and their Filipino guide Ivan Sarenas, 35, of Davao City.
Jocson said the victims were in a motorized banca when they were intercepted by five men armed with two M16 Armalite rifles and two .45 caliber pistols at around 1:50 p.m. in the waters off sitio Luuk-Luuk, Barangay Pang’n, Panglima Sugala town.
The victims were escorted by a village councilman and a local policeman in taking pictures of rare birds, Jocson said.
The escorts were left behind by the kidnappers who fled towards Panglima Sugala.
Jocson said Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali mobilized civilian volunteers in pursuit of the kidnappers.